43rd Mechanized Brigade (Netherlands)
43 Mechanised Brigade (Dutch: 43 Gemechaniseerde Brigade) is one of the three brigades of the Royal Netherlands Army. The others being the 13th Motorized Brigade and 11th Airmobile Brigade. The brigade has armored and non-armored vehicles to its disposal. The brigade can be used for combat operations, peacekeeping and ceremonial tasks.[1]
| 43 Mechanised Brigade | |
|---|---|
 43 Mechanised Brigade insignia | |
| Active | July 1949–present |
| Country |  Netherlands |
| Branch | Royal Netherlands Army |
| Type | Mechanised Infantry |
| Size | 3,500 active personnel; 1,000 reservists |
| Garrison/HQ | Johannes Post Kazerne, Havelte |
| Colors | Red & Blue |
| Mascot(s) | Bison |
| Engagements | War in Afghanistan |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Brigadier General Jan Swillens |
On 17 March 2016, the 43rd Mechanized Brigade was integrated into the German 1st Panzer Division.[2] At the same time, the German 414 tank battalion became one of the units in 43 Mechanised Brigade.[3] In this battalion one of the four companies is manned by Dutch personnel with 18 German Leopard 2A6 tanks.[4]
The Brigades Headquarters as well as most of the units are located at the Johannes Post Barracks in Havelte, in the province Drenthe.
Organization
The 43 Mechanized Brigade is made up of the following units:
- 43 Mechanized Brigade, in Havelte[5]
- 43 Staff Company (43 Stafcompagnie), in Havelte
- 44 Armoured Infantry Battalion "Johan Willem Friso" (44 Pantserinfanteriebataljon Johan Willem Friso), in Havelte
- Battalion Staff with two CV9035 infantry fighting vehicles
- 3x armoured infantry companies with 14 CV9035 each
- Weapons Company
- 45 Armoured Infantry Battalion "Oranje Gelderland" (45 Pantserinfanteriebataljon Oranje Gelderland), in Havelte
- Battalion Staff with two CV9035 infantry fighting vehicles
- 3x armoured infantry companies with 14 CV9035 each
- Weapons Company
- 1x reconnaissance platoon with Fennek light armoured reconnaissance vehicles
- 2x anti-tank platoons with Spike anti-tank missiles
- 1x mortar platoon with nine 81mm mortars
- 414th Panzer Battalion (GE & NL, 414 Pantserbataljon), in Bergen (Germany)
- 1st Staff Company
- 2nd; 3rd; 4th (Dutch) and 5th (Reserve) Tank Company, with Leopard 2A6MA2 main battle tanks
- 10 National Reserve Corps (NATRES) Battalion (10 Natresbataljon), in Assen
- Alpha Company (Alfacompagnie), in Assen
- Bravo Company (Bravocompagnie), in Assen
- Charlie Company (Charliecompagnie), in Wezep
- Delta Company (Deltacompagnie), in Amersfoort
- Echo Company (Echocompagnie), in Amersfoort
- Foxtrot Company (Foxtrotcompagnie), in Enschede
- 11 Armoured Engineer Battalion (11 Pantsergeniebataljon), in Wezep
- Staff Company, 111 and 112 Armored Engineer Company, 101 CBRN Defense Company
- 43 Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron "Huzaren van Boreel" (43 Brigadeverkenningseskadron Huzaren van Boreel), in Havelte, with Fennek light armoured reconnaissance vehicles
- 43 Medical Company (43 Geneeskundige Compagnie), in Havelte
- 43 Maintenance Company (43 Herstelcompagnie), in Havelte
References
- The 43rd Gemechaniseerde Brigade at the Netherlands Ministry of Defence
- "43. Mechanisierte Brigade". German Army official website (in German). Bundeswehr. 20 September 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- "Geschichte". German Army official website (in German). Bundeswehr. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- "Gliederung". German Army official website (in German). Bundeswehr. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- "43 Gemechaniseerde Brigade". Royal Netherlands Army. Retrieved 30 April 2020.